Mounting structure for cart-mount devices

ABSTRACT

A mounting structure mounts a car-mounted device, having a front panel projecting from a main body with a step therebetween, in an instrument panel, with the front panel projecting from a mounting hole of the instrument panel. A mounting tube has detent holes formed in side walls thereof and is inserted and fixed into the mounting hole from the front thereof. Mounting pieces are fixed to side walls of and mount the main body to the mounting tube and have integrally formed elastic pieces that can be angularly dislocated within a flat plane perpendicular to the inserting direction and that have detent pawls formed at end parts thereof. The detent pawls of the elastic pieces engage with the detent holes when the main body is mounted to the mounting tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mounting structure for mounting acar-mounted device such as a radio or a magnetic tape player.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the case of incorporating car-mounted devices such as a radio and amagnetic tape player into the instrument panel of an automotive vehicle,two methods hitherto have been used mainly in Japan, that is, a methodof fixing a main body of the device by screws or the like to the carbody from the back side of a mounting hole formed in the instrumentpanel, and a method of inserting the main body of the device from thefront of a mounting hole formed in the instrument panel. As employedherein, "front" of the instrument panel refers to the side thereofvisible from the interior of the vehicle. In other nations the lattermethod prevails because of its excellent efficiency. In the formermethod, the step difference between the instrument panel and the frontpanel of the car-mounted device may be relatively lessened.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the latter mounting structure. Acar-mounted device 1 is housed in a mounting tube 4 fixed in a mountinghole 3 formed in an instrument panel 2. A front panel 5 of thiscar-mounted device 1 projects from a main body 6 thereof.

Mounting members or pieces 7, 8 are fixed with screws or the like toopposite sides of main body 6. Elastic pieces or members 11, 12 arefixed at opposite sides of mounting tube 4. Detent pawls 14, 15 areformed in elastic members 11, 12 at upstream ends thereof in aninserting direction 13 of the car-mount device 1, and detent pawls 14,15 are inserted into detent holes 16, 17 formed in the mounting pieces7, 8. In this condition, the front panel 5 projects from the mountinghole 3, and the car-mount device 1 is incorporated in the instrumentpanel 2. A frame body 18 is provided around front panel 5 in order toenhance the aesthetic effect.

In such mounting structure, there is a relatively large degree offreedom between the size of the main body 6 and the size of the mountinghole 3, that is, the size of the mounting tube 4, so that there are fewlimitations in use of the car-mounted device 1 in various models ofautomobiles, which means that versatility is high.

In such prior art device illustrated in FIG. 1, in order to obtain aproper spring force, the elastic pieces 11, 12 must be formed withrelatively long deflection parts 11b, 12b extending from base parts 11a,12a fixed to the side walls of the mounting tube 4 in the upstreamdirection. Thus, the projection of the front panel 5 from the surface ofthe instrument panel 2 may be, for example, as large as 16 mm, which isnot suitable in appearance. To solve this problem, if the elastic pieces11, 12 are disposed behind the mounting tube 4, spaces for accepting thedetent pawls 14, 15 of the elastic pieces 11, 12 must be formed in thedevice main body 6, and this is not suitable from the viewpoint ofsaving of space. However, if these problems could be solved, then thistype of mounting structure could be employed in Japan, and the parts forJapanese market products and those for overseas market products could becommonly used, so that a reduction of costs could be expected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is hence a primary object of this invention to provide a mountingstructure for car-mounted devices that has excellent versatility andimproved appearance.

To achieve the above object, this invention provides a mountingstructure for a car-mounted device, having a front panel projecting froma main body with a step therebetween, in an instrument panel, with thefront panel projecting from a mounting hole in the instrument panel. Thestructure includes a mounting tube having detent holes formed in sidewalls thereof and being inserted and fixed into the mounting hole fromthe front of the instrument panel. Mounting pieces are fixed to sidewalls of the main body and mount the main body to the mounting tube. Themounting pieces have integrally formed elastic pieces that can beangularly dislocated within a flat plane perpendicular to the insertingdirection and that have detent pawls formed at end parts thereof. Thedetent pawls of the elastic pieces engage with the detent holes when themain body is mounted to the mounting tube.

In a preferred embodiment, guide walls, formed in forward end portionsof side walls of the mounting tube, open outwardly and guide the elasticpieces by pressure from the outside.

In another preferred embodiment, the elastic pieces are formed withguide pieces inclined about the inserting direction and openedforwardly.

According to these embodiments, the car-mounted device is housed in themounting tube fixed in the mounting hole formed in the instrument panel.The elastic pieces are fixed to the side walls of the main body, and thedetent pawls are formed at the end parts of the elastic pieces. Eachdetent pawl is angularly dislocatable within a flat plane perpendicularto the inserting direction of the car-mounted device into the mountingtube, and a detent hole corresponding to each detent pawl is formed inthe side wall of the mounting tube. Thus, by inserting the car-mounteddevice from the front of the mounting tube, the detent pawl of theelastic piece is inserted into the detent hole within a gap between themounting hole and the front panel, whereby the car-mounted device isinstalled with its front panel projecting outwardly from the mountinghole of the instrument panel.

Since the elastic piece on which the detent pawl is formed is formed ina manner to be free to dislocate angularly within a plane perpendicularto the inserting direction of the car-mounted device, the extent ofprojection of the front panel from the instrument panel can berestricted, and appearnace is improved.

In addition, since the parts may be commonly used both for overseasmarket products and for Japanese market products, costs can be reduced.

Moreover, in still another preferred embodiment, a frame body isremovably installed around the peripheral edge of the main body, and insuch a state, the car-mounted device is inserted into the mounting tubefrom the front thereof. The detent pawls of elastic pieces fit into thedetent holes in a normal state, in a gap between the mounting hole inthe instrument panel and the front panel, and the pawls are removed fromthe detent holes by deforming the elastic members against their elasticforce.

According to another embodiment, the car-mounted device is also insertedinto the mounting tube fixed in the mounting hole formed in theinstrument panel. On the side walls of the main body are fixed mountingpieces having elastic pieces, and detent pawls are formed at end partsof the elastic pieces. Each detent pawl is angularly dislocatable withina flat plane perpendicular to the inserting direction of the car-mounteddevice into the mounting tube, and is, in its natural state, urged byits elasticity in a direction away from a detent hole in the mountingtube. Therefore, by inserting the car-mounted device into the mountingtube from the front thereof and by fitting a frame body about theperipheral edge of the main body, each elastic piece is pressed anddislocated by the frame body against its elastic force in the gapbetween the mounting hole and front panel. As a result, the detent pawlis inserted into the detent hole, and the car-mounted device isinstalled with its front panel projecting out of the mounting hole inthe instrument panel.

In this detent or mounted state, the elastic piece always is elasticallyurged by its elastic force in a direction to be withdrawn from thedetent hole. Thus, by removing the frame body from the main body, theelastic pieces are restored, and the detent pawls move from the detentholes, so that the car-mounted device can be dismounted from themounting tube.

Thus, in this embodiment, since the elastic piece having a detent pawlis formed in a manner free to angularly dislocate within a flat planeperpendicular to the inserting direction of the car-mounted device, theprojection of the front panel from the instrument panel can berestricted, and appearance is enhanced. Also, since parts of overseasmarket products and Japanese market products can be commonly used, costscan be reduced. Furthermore, the elastic piece is bent to extent, in itsnatural state, in a direction away from the mounting tube, andtherefore, by detaching the frame body, the elastic piece is restoredand the detent state is canceled, so that efficiency of dismounting thecar-mounted device can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of this invention, as well as features andadvantages thereof, will better understood and appreciated from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure for acar-mounted device according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure of a car-mounteddevice according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view showing the mounting structure ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting piece;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting piece of another embodimentof this invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure of a car-mounteddevice of still another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of the mounting structure shown inFIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a magnified perspective view of a mounting piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodiments of this inventionare described below.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure of a car-mounteddevice 21 according to an embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 3 is aperspective exploded view showing its mounting procedure. For example,when installing a car-mounted device 21, such as a radio or a magnetictape player, in a mounting hole 23 formed in an instrument panel 22, amounting tube 24 is fitted preliminarily. From an upper wall 24c and alower wall 24d of the mounting tube 24 extend flanges 61, 62, and pawls63 to 66 made of, for example, synthetic resin are disposed on the outercircumference of the mounting tube 24. Pawls 63 to 66 are formed tostand upright in a natural state, and by tilting down or deforming pawls63 to 66, the mounting tube 24 is inserted into the mounting hole 23.When the flanges 61, 62 abut against the edge of the mounting hole 23,the instrument panel 22 is pinched between flanges 61, 62 and the raisedpawls 63 to 66, and the mounting tube 24 thus is fitted into themounting hole 23. The raised pawls 63 to 66 may be formed by cuttingparts of the mounting tube 24. In such case, the cut portions are raisedupright to press against the instrument panel 22 when the mounting tube24 is inserted into the mounting hole 23 and the flanges 61, 62 abutagainst edges of the mounting hole 23. The car-mounted device 21 ishoused in the thus mounted mounting tube 24. A front panel 25 of device21 projects with a step from a main body 26. At opposite side walls 26a,26b of the main body 26 are fixed mounting pieces 27, 27a by means ofscrews 29, 29a.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounting piece 27 at anenlarged scale. Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 2 to 4, at an end face33 of piece 27, at the upstream end thereof, in inserting direction 31of the car-mounted device 21, is formed an elastic piece 32 that isangularly dislocatable within a flat plane perpendicular to insertingdirection 31. On elastic piece 32 are formed a detent pawl 34 and aguide piece or tab 36 to be used when canceling a detent state of detentpawl 34, according to a procedure discussed below. Support pieces 38, 39each having a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, are formed atopposite upper and lower ends of end face 33, spaced from elastic piece32. Support pieces 38, 39 are engaged with engaging holes 43, 44 ofsupport plates 41, 42 projecting from the back side of a frame body 40for decorative use. When frame body 40 is installed around the frontpanel 25, a gap 45 formed between the main body 26 and mounting tube 24is concealed, so that appearance is enhanced. Mounting piece 27a isconstructed in the same manner as the mounting piece 27 andcorresponding parts thereof are identified with the subscript "a" addedto the reference numbers of the parts of the mounting piece 27.

The car-mounted device 21 on which the frame body 40 is thus placed is,when inserted into the mounting tube 24, dislocated in the direction ofarrows 48, 48a, resisting the spring force of the elastic pieces 32,32a, as the detent pawls 34, 34a are guided by guide walls 46, 46aextended from side walls 24a, 24b of the mounting tube 24. When thecar-mounted device 21 is further inserted, the detent pawls 34, 34a fitinto the detent holes 51, 51a formed in the vicinity of the base endportions of guide walls 46, 46a. As a result, the car-mounted device 21is fitted into the mounting tube 24, that is, the mounting hole 23.

To dismount the car-mounted device 21, a special tool 67 as shown inFIG. 4 is used. That is, an end portion 80 bent by 90 degrees from ashaft 68 is formed at the end of tool 67. This end portion 80 isinserted through insertion holes 81 or 81a formed in the frame body 40and is guided by the guide pieces 36 or 36a to notches 82 or 82a inmounting pieces 27 or 27a. The elastic pieces 32 or 32a are dislocatedin the directions of arrows 48 or 48a by the diameter of shaft 68,against the spring force of elastic pieces 32 or 32a, and the detentpawls 34 or 34a thereby are removed from the detent holes 51 or 51a.Then, by rotating the shaft 68 of the tool 67, the end portion 80 entersnotches 82 or 82a and thereby is hooked on the elastic pieces 32 or 32a.By pulling a grip 83 in this state, main body 21 can be removed from themounting tube 24.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting piece 71 according to anotherembodiment of this invention. It is similar to the mounting piece 27discussed above, and corresponding parts are identified by samereference numbers. In this embodiment, a raised elastic piece 73 formedwith a raised center portion is fixed, by welding or the like, to asupport part 72 formed in a bent U-shaped and extending from the endface 33. Opposite ends 73a, 73b of the elastic piece 73 are bent nearly90 degrees, and form detent pawls 74a, 74b which respecitvely projectthrough windows 75a, 75b formed in the vicinity of the base ends partsof the support pieces 38, 39 so as to extend into the detent holesformed in the mounting tube 24.

Thus, in the mounting structure according to these embodiments, sincethe elastic pieces 32, 32a or 73 are formed to be elastic in directionsperpendicular to the inserting direction 31 of the car-mounted device21, the extent of projection of the front panel 25 from the instrumentpanel 22 can be reduced, and appearance thus can be enhanced. Since theappearance is improved by this method of mounting the car-mounted device21 by insertion from the front of the instrument panel 22, this mountingmethod could be employed in Japan, and parts of the Japanese marketproducts and overseas market products can be standardized and commonlyused, so that reductions of costs can be expected.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure of car-mounteddevice 21 of another embodiment of this invention, FIG. 7 is aperspective exploded view showing its mounting procedure, and FIG. 8 isa perspective view showing a mounting piece 127 on an enlarged scale.Incidentally, the parts corresponding to the embodiments mentioned aboveare identified with the same reference numbers. At an end face 133 at anupstream end, in an inserting direction 31 of car-mounted device 21, isformed an elastic piece 132 that is angularly dislocatable within a flatplane perpendicular to inserting direction 31. On elastic piece 132 areformed a detent pawl 134 and a fitting protrusion 136 for supporting aframe body 40. The elastic piece 132 is bent in a direction to be spacedfrom the main body 26, that is in the direction of an arrow 48 in FIG.7. Abutting pieces 138, 139 are formed at opposite ends of end face 133,spaced from opposite sides of the elastic piece 132. Abutting pieces138, 139 abut against a step surface 35 of the main body 26. The fittingprotrusion 136 fits with a fitting hole 143 of a support or positioningplate 141 projecting from the back side of the frame body 40 fordecorative use. A mounting piece 127a is constructed in the same manneras the mounting piece 127, and corresponding parts thereof areidentified by the subscript "a" added to the reference numbers of theparts of the mounting piece 127.

When the car-mounted device 21 is inserted into the mounting tube 24 andis disposed in a specified position therein, the frame body 40 is set inplace. By the frame body 40 thus fitted around the peripheral edge ofthe front panel 25, a gap 145 formed between the main body 26 and themounting tube 24 is concealed, and appearance thus is improved. When theframe body 40 is set, fitting holes 143, 143a receive fittingprotrusions 136, 136a of the elastic pieces 132, 132a, and the elasticpieces 132, 132a are pushed and dislocated in the directions opposite toarrows 48, 48a, resisting the elastic force thereof. Thus, detent pawls134, 134a fit into the detent holes 51, 51a formed in the vicinity ofthe opening of the side walls 24a, 24b of the mounting tube 24. Hence,the car-mounted device 21 is installed in the mounting tube 24, that is,the mounting hole 23.

Upon removal of the frame body 40, the elastic force of the elasticpieces 132, 132a moves elastic pieces in directions to cancel the detentstate, i.e. in the directions of arrows 48, 48a. Therefore, by detachingthe frame body 40 from the main body 26, the elastic pieces 132, 132aare restored to their normal conditions, allowing the detent pawls 134,134a to escape from the detent holes 51, 51a, so that the car-mounteddevice 21 may be relatively easily dismounted from the mounting tube 24.

In this manner, according to the mounting structure of this embodiment,since the elastic pieces 132, 132a are formed to be deflectable indirections perpendicular to the inserting direction 31 of thecar-mounted device 21, the extent of projection of the front panel 25from the instrument panel 22 can be reduced, so that the appearance maybe improved. Since the appearance of the mounting structure forinserting the car-mounted device 21 from the front of the instrumentpanel 22 is improved, this mounting method may be employed in Japan, andtherefore the parts of Japanese market products and overseas marketproducts can be standardized and commonly used, so that reductions ofcost may be expected.

Incidentally, the elastic pieces 132, 132a, in their natural state, arebent such that they are withdrawn from the detent holes in the main body26. Therefore, the detent state is canceled simply by removing the framebody 40, since this restores the elastic pieces 132, 132a to theirnatural state. Thus, the detent state of the detent pawls 134, 134a canbe canceled without the need for a special tool, such as 57 of the firstembodiment. As a result, operating efficiency when dismounting thecar-mounted device 21 can be improved.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes that come within the meaning and the rangeof equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

I claim:
 1. A mounting structure for mounting in an instrument panel ofan automotive vehicle a car-mounted device, such as a radio or a tapeplayer, having a main body and a front panel extending from the mainbody with a step therebetween, said mounting structure comprising:amounting tube to be inserted forwardly through a mounting hole in theinstrument panel and retained therein, such that the car-mounted devicecan be inserted in an insertion direction forwardly into said mountingtube, said mounting tube having opposite side walls having thereinrespective detent holes; a pair of mounting members to be attached torespective opposite sides of the main body of the car-mounted device;each said mounting member having integral therewith at a position ofjuncture an elastic member extending in a direction generally along theheight dimension of said mounting tube, said elastic member having anormal position and being deflectable therefrom against the elasticforce thereof about said position of juncture in a plane perpendicularto said insertion direction, said elastic member having a detent pawl;said elastic force of said elastic members urging said detent pawls awayfrom said respective detent holes, such that when said mounting membersare inserted with the car-mounted device into said mounting tube saiddetent pawls do not initially extend into said detent holes; and meansfor moving said elastic members against the elastic force thereof suchthat said detent pawls extend into said detent holes.
 2. A structure asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said moving means comprise positioningplates on a decorative frame body to be mounted about the car-mounteddevice to cover a gap between the mounting hole in the instrument paneland the front panel of the car-mounted device, whereby when said framebody is installed said positioning plates abut respective said elasticmembers and urge said elastic members against the elastic force thereof,thereby moving said detent pawls into said detent holes.
 3. In anassembly including a car-mounted device, such as a radio or a tapeplayer, having a main body and a front panel extending from said mainbody with a step therebetween, and a mounting structure for mountingsaid car-mounted device in an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle,the improvement wherein said mounting structure comprises:a mountingtube to be inserted forwardly through a mounting hole in the instrumentpanel and retained therein, such that said car-mounted device can beinserted in an insertion direction forwardly into said mounting tube,said mounting tube having opposite side walls having therein respectivedetent holes; a pair of mounting members attached to respective oppositesides of said main body of said car-mounted device; each said mountingmember having integral therewith at a position of juncture an elasticmember extending in a direction generally along the height dimension ofsaid mounting tube, said elastic member having a normal position andbeing deflectable therefrom against the elastic force thereof about saidposition of juncture in a plane perpendicular to said insertiondirection, said elastic member having a detent pawl; said elastic forceof said elastic members urging said detent pawls away from saidrespective detent holes, such that when said mounting members areinserted with said car-mounted device into said mounting tube saiddetent pawls do not initially extend into said detent holes; and meansfor moving said elastic members against the elastic force thereof suchthat said detent pawls extend into said detent holes.
 4. The improvementclaimed in claim 3, wherein said moving means comprise positioningplates on a decorative frame body mounted about said car-mounted deviceto cover a gap between the mounting hole in the instrument panel andsaid front panel of said car-mounted device, whereby when said framebody is installed said positioning plates abut respective said elasticmembers and urge said elastic members against the elastic force thereof,thereby moving said detent pawls into said detent holes.